Can sealing machine



June 16, 1931. A K. MALMQUIST 1,809,905

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed oct. 5, 1928 15 sheets-sheet 1 7gg A grr/vento@ June 16, 1931. A K MALMQUlST 1,809,905

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1928 l5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7/5 f/ 0 796@ O- #e W 109 m7 o 1/5 I fog /Og Ima/whoa June 16, 1931. A. K. MALMQulsT 1,809,905

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. I5, 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 16, 1931. v A K. MALMQUIST 1,809,905

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 16, 1931. A. K. MALMQUIST CAN SEALING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed oct. s, 192e June 16, 1931; A. K. MALMQUlsT CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed 001'.. 3, 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 .Hllllw iilli. i La www im .MJU

`'une 16, 1931. A, K, MALMQUlsT 1,809,905

CAN SEALING MACHINE June 16, 1931 A, K MALMQUlsT 1,809,905

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3, 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 June 16, 1931. A K. MALMQUlST 1,809,905

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. I5, 1928 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 June 16, 1931.

A K. MALMQUIST Filed oct. :5. 1928 15 sheets-sheet l0 `lune 16, 1931. A K, MALMQUIST 1,809,905

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed OCT.. 3, 1928 l5 sheetsh-Shet l1 726 ZQLI'ZE j J June 16, 1931. A K, MALMQUIST 1,809,905

CAN sEALING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3, 1928 l5 Sheets-Sheet l2 June 16, 1931. A. K. MALMQUIST CAN SEALING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Oct. 5, 1928 CHP `lune 16, 1931. A K. MALMQUlsT 1,809,905

CAN SEALI NG MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1928 l5 Sheets-Sheet 14 I II June 16, 1931. A K. MALMQUlsT 1,809,905

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed oet. 5, 1928 15 swam-shea 15 nvento'a (htm mug Patented June 16, 1931 nous x. inni-.Meursn or SOUTH 13mm-Narren, WASHINGTON cAN sEALING MACHINE Application led October 3, Serial No. 309,979. I

This invention relates `to can-closing apparatus and has special reference to machines of that type in which the can tops are seamed onto the can bodies in a vacuum chamber,

'5 the present invention providing a rotating carrier by which a plurality of cans will be carried through the sealing chamber at one time and the tops applied by a double seaming operation. The general object of the in-A vention is to simplify the construction, accelerate the operation, and ieduce the cost of maintenance of can-seaming machines.

More specifically stated, the objects of the invention are to so mount the vacuum chami bei` that it may revolve easily while'being supported firmly and well balanced; to provide a sectional casing for the sealing vacuum chamber which may be easily adjusted .to compensate for wear while minimizing frictional wear caused by atmospheric pressure when the chamber is vacuumized; to provide a vacuumizing groove or port of such design that spilliiigs from the cans will be drawn out of the chamber with the air and thereby prevented fronrcollecting in the bottom of the chamber and working into the plunger bearing; to separate the spillings from the air drawn from the vacuum chamber and thereby avoid clogging of the vacuum pump; to provide an arrangement of ports whereby the seaming rollers may be lubricated and adjusted from the exterior of the casing so that no disassembling is necessary; to provide novel and eHicient top-feeding means controlled by the supply of Cans so that a top will be fed to the seeming chamber only when a can is in position to receive the top; to provide means for automatically marking the can tops; to minimize spilling by placing the cans eachV having a loose top thereon in the seamin cham'ber close under the seamer chuck and etween the seaming rollers and vacuuinizing the cans before clinching the caps, to prevent rotation of the cans andf tops before the cans are vacuumized,4to aline the cans in single file as they are fed to the machine, and to provide a mechanism by the use of which the cans vwill at all stages be caused to travel smoothly and without spilling under normal conditions. The stated objects and other objects which will appear incidentally in the course of the following description are attained in such an apparatus as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention resides in certain novel` features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a similar view with the top spiders or cap plates removed and some parts in horizontal section,

Figure 3 isa vertical section about on the line 8 3 of Fig. 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the can and cap clamping plungers of the vacuum chamber, A

Figure '5 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation, looking at the power side of the apparatus, this View being somewhat diagrammatic,

Figure-6 is a detail plan view of a part of the cap-feeding apparatus,

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through the parts shown in Fig. 6,

Figure 8 is a detail transverse section approximately on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7,

Figure 9 is a schematic plan view of the support for the vcap-feeding apparatus,

Figure 1.0 is a detail of the bottom of the cap magazine,

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail section on the line 11 11 of Fig.` 9,

Figure 12 is a schematic plan view of thek Figure 18 is a horizontal section through' the sealing or vacuum chamber and the carrier therein, the seaming rollers and' mechanism being omitted, y

Figure 19 is a schematic vertical section of the same,

Figure 20 is a plan view of the valve or.

can carrier, the seaming devices being omitted,

Figure 21 is a diametrical vertical section of the same,

Figure 22 is a partial elevation of the' same,

Figure 23 shows in detail the sill provided at the entrance to the vacuum chamber,

Figure 24 is a top plan view of a part of the valve or can carrier,

Figure 25 is a vertical section on the line 25-25 of Fig. 24,

Figure 26 is a horizontal section through one compartment of the can carrier,

Figure 27 is a vertical section on the line 27-27 of Fig. 26,

Figure 28 is a schematic view showing the seaming rollers in a position different from that shown in Fig. 26,

Figure 29 is an elevation of the seaming rollers and the cam for shifting them,

F igures30 and 31 are detail elevations of the levers or arms which carry the seaming rollers,

Figure 32 is'a detail section of the spindle shown in Fig. 25,

Figure 33 is a detail plan view of a d1al shown in Fig. 24,

Figure 34 1s an enlarged plan view of the cam which controls the seaming roller, arms or levers,

Figures 35 to 40 are details of the cansupporting plunger in the carrier,

Figures 41 and 42 are details of the chuck or cap-pressing members,

Figures 43 and v44 are discharging elements.

The main frame includes a base plate 1 of suitable form supported by legs 2 which may be of any approved design and may be 1n.- tegral with or rigidly secured to the plate. There is also a spider 3 carried by columns or posts 4 rising from the base plate, and a rim or flange 5 on the base supports the casing 6 of the vacuum and sealing chamber. Rigidly secured u on the base plate and projecting laterally t erefrom is a feed table or bracket 7 at the outer end of which is suitably mounted a shaft 8 carrying a drum or roller 9 about which is trained the delivery bight of an endless belt conveyer 10 which brings the filled cans to the seaming machine. Sprocket gearing 11 operatively connects the shaft 8 with a shaft 12 mounted at the inner end of the feed table and driven through a train of gearing from the main power shaft 13 which is mounted below the base plate 1 and is equipped at one end with a band pulley 14 whereby it may receive power from any convenient motor. Parallel longitudinal slots 15 in the feed table accommodate carrier chains or belts 16 which are trained about vertically disposed pulleys or sprockets 17, 18 and which receive the cans and cooperate with other elements to transfer them in proper timed relation to the cap and body details of the canassembling turret, the sprockets or ulleys 18 being secured upon the shaft 12. e carriers 16 operate between a stationary gulde rail 19 and a movable guide rail 20 so that if the cans received from the conveyer 10 are out of exactfalinement they will be properly alined before leaving the feed table. The movable rail is pvoted at its inner end, as at 21, and its 'free end'may be moved laterally outward by impact of an on-coming can and is yieldably pressed inwardly and held parallel with the rail 19 by a spring 22 secured upon the feed table and bearing against the outer side of the rail. The outward move ment of the rail is limited by a sto 23, and consequently, any can which may be out of line will be properly centered upon the carriers 16 as it travels along between the guides. Disposed in a horizontal plane above the feed table and arranged to form an acute angle with the carriers 16 is an endless feed chain 24, some of the links of which are equipped with pusher fingers 25 adapted to proJect over the rail 19 successively and at regular intervals to engage behind the cans on the carriers 16 and push them around to and into the can and cap assembling turret in properly timed relation. The chain 24 is carried and actuated by sprockets 26, the outer sprocket being mounted in an adjustable bearing bracket 27 whereby it may be kept taut, and the inner sprocket being secured-upon a vertical shaft 28 Which is mounted in and extends below the feed table. Beveled gearing 29 operatively connects the shaft 28 with the shaft 12 and a spur gear 30 on the lower end of the shaft 28 is a member of the gearing train which transmits motion from the main driving shaft 13. An arcuate guide rail 31 concentric with the shaft 28 and the pulley thereon, and a straight guide rail 32 tangential to said pulley direct the cans into the can and cap assembling turret.

Secured in any convenient manner upon one side of the main frame is a bracket 33 and an upper spider 34 in which is journalcd a vertical shaft 35 carrying the can and cap assembling turret 36, the cap magazine and the cap-feeding mechanism being also mounted on said bracket. The turret comprises a central hub or circular body from which equidistant approximately tangential pushers 37 proj oct, said pushers being formed with horizontal notches 38 to clear stop lugs on the wall of the scaling and vacuum chamber, and having an outline which defines a semicircular seat or pocket 39 to receive a can. The parts are so timed that a can seat or pocket will be disposed adjacent the guide 32 as a can is pushed along said guide by a pusher finger 25 so that the can will be received in the pocket and will rest on the bottom plate 40 of the turret. The rotation of the turret will carry the can past the cap magazine to receive a cap and, just before a complete revo- 'lol lution is. made, will bring the can 'against a eamstop lug and guide 41 .on the vacuum scaling chamber casing, at the entrance thereto, whereby the can will be directed'into said chamber. In passing to the sealing chamber, the can travels between the parallel opposed faces of the stop lug 41, secured on the wall of the sealing chamber, and a cooperating ing 42, fixed on the base, which latter lug also functions to guide a sealed can discharged from the sealing chamber onto the delivery table 43, as will presently appear.

At a point remote from the entrance to the sealing chamber and, for convenience, diametrically opposite the entrance, the can receives a cap. The ca magazine consists of four rods 44 rising rom the bracket 33 in rectangular relation and the caps are stacked between the rods in an obvious manner.A A straight slot 45 is formed through an extension of the bracket 33 longitudinally of the extension and in radial relation to the cap magazine and a dovetailed groove 46 is formed in the upper side of the extension with its sides parallel with the sides of said slot. A dovetailed cap-pusher slide 47 is seated in the groove 46 and is provided with a longitudinal slot 48 registering with the slot 45, the working end of the slide having a recess 49 and an overhanging beveled lip 50 whereby it is adapted to engage the lowermost cap 51 and push it from the stack to the marker station. The stack of caps will be supported by the slide until the slide is retracted whereupon the entire stack will be lowered to dispose the lowermost cap in position to be engaged by the pusher slide. Slidably supported by the gibs 52' and 53 on the bottom of the bracket extension is a head 54 which extends upwardly through the slots 45 and 48 and is provided with a notch 55 in `its upper end, this head being reciprocated continuously when the machine is in operation.

Pivoted upon the upper side of the pusher slide 47, near the outer end thereof, is a dog 56 which at times engages the notch 55 to thereby lock the slide to the head and effect operation of the slide andfeeding of a cap. Normally, the-dog is held out of engagement with the head by a spring 57 anchored on the pivot for the dog and bearing against the inner side of a lug 58 on the dog near the free end thereof. "When the dog isengaged with the head, it is held in such engagement by a stationary guide bracket 59 against which it rides during a full operation of the slide, as will be understood from the drawings. The dog is rocked into engagement with the driving head of a two-armed lever 60fulcrumed upon the extension ofthe b racket 33 with its outer end bearing against the outer side of the dog and its inner end disposed normally in the path of the can which is beginning to travel with the turret, being yieldably held in such position by a spring 6l which is anchored at one end upon the fulcrum and has its free end engaged with a lug 62 on the lever. It will 'be noted that the arms of kthe lever define an obtuse angle and the inner end of the lever projects into the path of a can carried by the turret adjacent the end of the guide 32 so that, as a can clears said guide and starts to travel with the turret, the lever will be rocked and will drive the dog 56 into engagement with the head 54'. It will thus be seen that the caps will be fed from the magazine in consonance with the travel of the cans.

As above stated, the cap is pushed from the magazine to a marker s ation. The marker may be of any approved 'detail construction and is shown as comprising hingedlyconnected die-carrying jaws 63 normally separated by a spring 64 to receive a can top or cap. From the marker, the cap passes into a pocket of the turret where it is received and held by a plunger head 65 on the lower end of a plunger rod 66 which is slidable vertically in the top of the turret, it being noted that a plunger is provided for each pocket of the turret. The plunger head is open at its outer side 67 to readily admit the cap and is also laterally extended, as at 68, to compensate for the relative angular movement between the turret and the cap and avoid damage to the cap as it enters the plunger head. The cap engages at its edge in an internal groove 69 in the head whereby it is supported above the can until lowered onto the same just as it is to be transferred to the sealing chamber. To prevent turning of the plunger in the turret, the plunger rod is equipped with a key or feather 70 fitting in a groove provided therefor in the top plate of thev turret, and at the upper end of the rod is mounted a roller 71 traveling in a cam track 72 on the spider 34 whereby the capwill be lowered onto the can at the proper instant.

On the under side of thehead 54 is a depending stud 73 upon which is lpivotally engaged one end of a pitman 74, the opposite end of the pitman being pivotally connected to a crank arm 75 on the upper end of a shaft 76 which is journaled in suitable bearings on the bracket 33 and the main frame. To the lower end of the shaft 76 is secured a crank 77 to which a link 78 is attached, said link being in turn pivoted upon a wrist pin 79 which is carried by a shaft 80 journaled in the lower portion of the bracket 33. On said shaft 8O is a pinion 81 meshing with a large gear 82 on the lower end of the turret-earry ing shaft 35. On the upper end of the shaft is a crank 83 to which is pivoted one end of a link 84 having its outer end pivoted to a lever 85 secured to the lower end of a vertically disposed rock shaft 86 which is journaled in the bracket 33. On the upper end of the shaft 86 is secured a bent lever 87 to the outer end of which is secured an arcuate push bar 88 slidably fitted in a groove 89 in the top of the bracket 33 to ass the marker dies and transfer the marke cap to the lunger head 65, and it should be noted at this point that the rods 44, constituting the cap magazine, are carried by a base plate 90 which is spaced from the top to the bracket a distance equal to the thickness of a cap and its bead or flange, guide plates 91 being secured on the bracket to direct the cap properly to the marker. It will be readily seen that the pusher bar 88 will vbe reciprocated in timed relation to the other working pa'rts so that it transfers a marked cap and is then retracted to permit the placing of another cap in the marker. On the edge presented to the pusher, the plate is recessed or undercut, as at 290, to accommodate the lip 50 and permit the pusher to make a full stroke.

Spanning the marker is a post 92 which forms a stop for the cap delivered to the marker, and on which is a barrel 93 in overhanging relation to the marker. Slidably fitted through the barrel 93 and resting on the upper member of the marker is a striker rod 94 which is normally held raised by an expansion spring 95 disposed between the upper endof the barrel and a head or abutment 96 on the rod, the upward movement of the rod being limited by a stop collar 97 secured on the rod below the barrel. To regulate the opening or separation of the marker dies, a hand screw 98 bears on the upper end of the striker rod, said screw being equipped with a hand wheel 99 and threaded through the split end of a lever 100 carrying a set screw 101 to maintain the adjustment. The lever 100 is fulcrumed between its ends on the spider 34 and its inner end rests on a cam 102 which is secured on the shaft 35 above the spider 34, an anti-friction bearing 103 being provided -on the spider, if desired to reduce the wear. The cam, of course, rotates with the turret and the shaft 35 and at proper intervals a high part 104 will ride under thelever 100 and rock the same to deliver a quick sharp blow upon the rod 94 and mark the cap.

The sealing and vacuum chamber is arranged in the angle defined by the can-feeding mechanism and the can and cap-assembling and transfer turret. The wall 6 of said chamber is in three arcuate sections 105, 106 and 107 each of which has a horizontal iange 108 at its lower edge resting on the base 1 or the rim thereon and provided near its ends with slots 109 through which cap bolts 110 are inserted into the base to secure the wall on the latter and permit adjustment of the wall to effect the desired air-tight engagement with the valve or can carrier and compensate for wear without interfering with the rotation of the carrier. The ends of the several sections are beveled or disposed obliquely whereby they may abut, as shown at 111, with their inner peripheral surfaces flush, and the ends of the central section 105 are formed with horizontal slots 112 through which cap bolts 113 are inserted into threaded sockets provided therefor in the adjacent ends of the sections 106 and 107, the sections being thus firmly secured together while the slots 112 permit relative adjustment of the sections 106 and 107 uxon the ends of section 105. It will be note that the ends of the sections 106 and 107 are cut away in angular form, as shown at 114, and within said recesses eye Ibolts or brackets 115 rise frbm the base. Swiveled in the upper ends of the brackets 115 are adjusting screws 116 which have their threaded ends engaged in threaded sockets 117 in the respectlve sections 106 and 107. Obviously, manipulation of the adjusting screws will set the wall sections in proper relation to the carrier and the will be firm'- ly secured in the set positions v turning the set bolts 110 home.

In the inner surface of each wall section, at the lower limit of the effective area thereof, is a circumferentially extending groove 118, said groove extending through the full length of the center section but terminating short of the outer ends of the end sections and constituting a continuous passage or port extending from a point near one end of the wall to a point correspondingly near the opposite end ofthe wall. In the section 107, the groove communicates directly with a port 119 leading outwardly through the flange 108 and having a nipple 120 secured in its outer end. A hose or pipe 121 is attached to the nipple 120 and leads downwardly therefrom to discharge into a vacuum tank 122 through the side of the`latter, the upper end of the tank being operatively connected in anyfapproved manner to a suction pump (not shown)I which may be of any preferred design. t willbe understood that by having the groove 118 and the port 119 at the bottom of the vacuum chamber, any liquids or acids which may spill from the cans will be drained from the chamber with the outliowing air and will collect in the vacuum tank, instead of remaining in the chamber to eat away the plunger or other working parts. The tank is provided at its bottom with a drain cock 123 in order that the accumulated liquor and sediment may be drawn off from time to time.

Extending centrally through the vacuum and sealing chamber is a vertical shaft 124 which is journaled in the base 1 and the spider 3 and to which the valve or can carrler is secured, said carrier comprising a hub 125 keyed to the shaft 124 and a circular body so formed as to define a plurality of pockets 126 containing seaming mechanism. The circular body also furnishes a floor or bottom plate formed to permit the entrance of the cans into and their discharge from the respective pockets.' At each of said openings a guide plate or sill 130 is provided to fill the space between the turret and the seaming plunger, to be presently described, a smooth passage of the can onto the-plunger being thereby insured. A head frame 131 is secured in an)rv convenient manner to the carrier and constitutes a top or cover for the several pockets,

being provided with portions 132 fittingwithin the respective pockets and also with upstanding bearing sleeeves 133 over the same. l

On the under side of the carrier, concentric with each pocket,is a guide bracket134 which is rigidly secured to the carrier and is of a generally cylindrical formation toslidably house a tubular plunger 135, a packing gland 136 being provided in the upper end of the guide-around the plunger to prevent leakage.. The lower end of the plunger is closed, as shown-at 137, and in the upper end of the plunger is secured a bushing 138 snuglyreceiving the stem 139 depending from the plunger head'140 onto which the can, with a top or cap loose thereon, slides when-it enters the pocket of the carrier. A stop collar 141 is secured on'the lower end of the stem 139 and is adapted to abut the bushing 138 with suliicient force to frictionally hold the stem against turning about its own vertical axis. To maintain the frictional engagement of the collar and the bushing, an expansion spring 142 is seated on the lower closed -end or head 137 of the plunger and bears at its upper end against an abutment 143 below the y stem, a bearing ball- 144 being interposed between the abutment and the end of the stem, as shown. The spring normally maintains the parts 138 and 141 in engagement so that they constitute a brake to prevent rotation of the can until after it is vacuumized. In the lower end of the plunger 135 is secured diametrically an axle 145 having rollers 146 and 147 mounted thereon, the roller 146 being disposed concentrically and the roller 147 being disposed eccentrically or at the outer side of the plunger. These rollers cooperate respectively with cam tracks 148 `and 149 which are secured upon the base plate concentric with the carrier shaft 124, the action of the cam 148. being to lift the plunger and the cam 149 having a reentrant or overhanging flange which acts to depress the plunger, as' will be understood. When the plunger is raised, the bushing will be lifted from the collar 141 and the stem, plunger head, and can thereon may then rotate upon the ball 144 about the axis of the plunger head and' the stem.

In the top of each `pocket 126, alined axially with the seaming plunger therein, is a chuck 150 rotatably mounted in and extending through the bearing sleeve 133. The head 151 of the chuck has secured to Iits under side a ring 152 having the marginal portion of its lower face lpro erl shaped, as at 153, to lit over the inner Eea of the can cap and within the marginal bead .or iange thereof.` Interposed between the head 151 and the top of the frame 133 is an antifriction thrust bearing 154, a rim 155 on the head enclosing thebearing and forming a well for lubricant, and it may be here noted that, wherever the structure will permit, bearings will be of the antifriction type and rotating parts will be formed with passages for receiving and retaining lubricant. In the upper end of the stem of the chuck is a recess 156 receivin an expansionspring 157 bearing upon the ottom of the recess and an abutment or'plug 158 which is secured upon the upper end of a presser rod 159 and has lateral arms 160 in constant engagement with a stop and guide plate 161 whereby the rod 159 is prevented from turning but'may slide vertically, the spring 157 moving the rod upwardly and a cam rail 162 on the spider 3 moving it downwardly in an obvious manner. On the lower end of the rod 159 is a cap-holding diskcor head 163 which projects slightly below the chuck head 151 when in activeposition and seats in a central recess 164 therein when in inactive position. While the presser rod does not rotate, the chuck rotates constantly and, t0 eifect such rot-ation, a pinion 165 is secured on the stem of the chuck and m'eshes with a gear 166 which rests on the upper end of the carrier hub and rotates about a bushing 167 which encircles the carrier shaft 124. A bevel gear 168 secured on the upper side of the gear 166 meshes with a similar gear 169 on the inner end of a shaft 170 mounted radially on the spider 3. Beveled gearing 171 connects the outer end of the shaft 170 with the upper end of a vertical shaft 172 on the main frame, and onV the lower end of the shaft 17 2 is a beveled gear 173 meshing with gear 174 on the inner end of the power shaft 13. This driving mechanism and. the described stationary cams are so timed that,

just prior to the discharge of the can and cap from the transfer turret, the cap will be tion begins, the presser rod then yie ding somewhat to the suction so that all air may be withdrawn from the can without causing complete separation of the cap and can. It will be understood that the rod exerts just enough pressure on the cap to keep it from sliding 01T the can while permitting the for-A 

